Guidelines on the Princess Rule

Children born in wedlock to a Danish mother and a foreign father during the period 1st January 1961 to 31st December 1978 did not obtain Danish nationality by birth. As an alternative, Danish mothers were offered to make a declaration by which their child obtained Danish nationality, cf. s. 2(2) of Act No. 117 of 19th March 1978.

Children born during this period whose mother did not make a declaration to this affect may apply for Danish nationality by naturalization according to the “Princess Rule”.

It is a condition that the general requirements for obtaining Danish nationality by naturalization are fulfilled. This means that an applicant who has been convicted of an offence cannot be naturalized until after a certain period of time, and that the applicant may not owe money to the Danish authorities.

In addition, the applicant must be able to take part in an ordinary conversation in Danish. It is not a condition that the applicant must read or write in Danish.

It is furthermore a condition that the applicant has been staying in Denmark under circumstances indicating some association with the country. In general, one year's stay in total before the age of 22 is required.

In order to obtain Danish nationality by naturalization, it is furthermore a condition that the applicant renounces his/her previous nationality, in so far as this is possible, unless the applicant lives in his/her country of origin. This means that a Pakistani national residing in the Pakistan does not have to give up his/her Pakistani nationality to obtain Danish nationality by naturalization in accordance with the Princess Rule.

Please enclose the following documentation (photocopies accepted) with your application (the application form can be downloaded from the website of the Ministry of Justice, the Nationality Division, application form naturalization:

The applicant’s Certificate of Birth and English translated copy from which the name of the parents appears (Both must be attested by Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

The applicant’s mother’s Certificate of Birth and English translated copy (Both must be attested by Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

The parents’ Marriage Certificate and translated copy (Both must be attested by Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

The applicant’s passport

A declaration from the applicant’s mother stating whether she has ever applied for or acquired a foreign nationality by application. The declaration should read as follows: "I, the undersigned, solemnly declare that I have never applied for nor acquired a foreign nationality"

If the applicant has been studying or working in Denmark: copies of certificates etc.